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Day 13: Going Home, and Saying Goodbye

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The Dreaded Morning The day started with last minute packing and an early breakfast. For those of the group they enjoyed the expensive hotel breakfast we ate with a last reminder of why we were in Finland in the first place. A reminder of sustainability with a boy dressed in plastic surrounded by a rundown home. After breakfast we made the trek to the train station, getting there just in time to make a train to the Helsinki Airport. Food In the Airport Once though check in which was massively different and easier from the Toronto airport. We were able to enjoy some duty free shopping and last minute food. Where we noticed something that we observed many times through the expedition. Many restaurants will provide people with a pager when ordering food instead of a waiter. The pager is a circular disk-like tool where a customer can find a seat to which the disk will vibrate and flash red to alert when food is ready. In Canada the majority of time, customers are given a number and require
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Day 12: When travelling in Helsinki

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I t was   our last full day in Helsinki, and we were truly blessed with such amazing weather and people. We can not believe that this experience will soon be over , but at the same time we also  looking forward to going back to Canada and mak ing meaningful changes with the knowledge and experiences that we gained here in Finland.   As the sense of urgency start ed kicking in, we went full gear getting ready to do some souvenir shopping and more sightseeing! Helsinki is a big and buzzing city, but what many of us found was how surprising ly  serene the ambi a nce of the downtown area is even if there were thousands of people passing by. It i s not like Toronto whe re you have a consistent need to be cauti ous and aware of your surroundings , it felt o r g a ni ze d when compared to Canada. You could see how the city grew organically but seemed to try and make improvements so i t s p e o p le can move freely and in sustainable ways.   Another thing that amazed
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Day 11: Exploring the City: A Day of Unexpected Adventures and Sustainable Surprises

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T oday was an exhilarating day for us; we got to experience so much! The morning began with a beautiful, sunny sky, filling us with excitement to explore the city. We were eager to shop for some new clothes, so we decided to head to the mall. But first, we needed breakfast, so we walked to a nearby bakery and indulged in some cake and a warm cup of coffee—what better way to start the day? Even the walk to the bakery was an adventure, with the city's charming cobblestone streets adding to the unique experience. We then met up with some friends and headed to the mall. Given the 50-minute walk and the warm weather, we decided to call an Uber instead. To our surprise, it was a Tesla! With the focus of our trip being sustainability, it was incredibly fitting to get a ride in an electric vehicle. Although the goal of electric vehicles is to reduce our dependance on fossil fuels, it still felt like a luxury car. Additionally, some of us had never been in a Tesla before, so we were excited
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Day 10: Kiitos Joensuu and Hello Helsinki!

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After this week we can sufficiently say that we have caught "Suomi fever", with each day in Joensuu being filled with enlightenment on the similarities and differences this community has compared to our own.  For a group of online students that are used to working independently we surely became inseparable. Our diverse personality types complemented each other which allowed us to apply a social sustainable practice using our emotional strengths to support each other during the various highs and lows that are inevitable when travelling. The diverse range of personality types we all have will aide in managing interpersonal relationships at the workplace in terms of resolving conflict and creating bonds. It can also help us to be better leaders to be more objective and inclusive of peoples differing views. On our final night in Joensuu, we all sat together at the restaurant and discussed the highlights of this expedition pertaining to social and environmental sustainability le
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